From Jersey City streets to 'Survivor' jungle a culture shock, contestant says

Years of patrolling Jersey City streets as a police officer
could not fully prepare Tony Vlachos for what awaited him as a contestant on "Survivor."

"I'm used to the city; I'm used to buildings; I'm used to
people; but out there, there was nothing," Vlachos said. "It's tough to get
plucked out of a city environment and be thrown into literally a jungle."

Vlachos, 39, will represent Jersey City in the 28th
season of the Emmy Award-winning series, which premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. on
CBS.

Before Vlachos flew to compete in the show, which was filmed
in Cagayan, a province in the Philippines, Vlachos said he believed he had an
advantage with his 14 years on the force. "I felt all the experience on the
streets was my training for 'Survivor.'

"I study human behavior, that's what we do out there" as police officers, Vlachos said. "I deal with people on the streets that are
constantly lying to me. It's a direct parallel to 'Survivor.' You have to
outwit somebody on 'Survivor,' you have to outplay them ... to move ahead."

Vlachos also packed on 15 pounds to prepare him for the
meager meals while competing on the show.

"I've been watching (contestants) starve on the show for
years," said Vlachos. "I said, 'I'm not going to eat no rat, I'm not going to
eat no bugs,' so I ... started packing on the weight."

As a family man with a wife and young girl, Vlachos said the
53 days of being "off the grid" for filming took a toll on him.